The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1887-12-25
ONE WINTER NIGHT.
SUE vHEtLER HODGE.
FOR the Examiner

Albert NescY And hl- VIE. lhty hAd
lust return, Il Fl, IN Europa wncre Y t.
sew met and married the bcart ful
Alice Msvt ard--A marriage
fraught with mystery nud r, luc,
Z hat tor mon hs sfterward, tho young
couple were haunt q with an aroma
OF notoriety, and instead OF bcirg a
lowed to spend tn lr honeymoon in
blissful quiet aft'r the orthodox fash
/ on, they were forever dodging in
Iuisitvc strangers, and fleeing from
sympathetic but too curious friends
Perhaps this was why Nesey preferred
travelling on the continent year or
two before tn ming home ard; at any
rate, that j. What he did, aud the ru-
mors winch noated across the waters
making the llage tongue wag, had
ceased TO be marv, and wonder
had almost ccast d to be memory
when he returned bringing with him
his beautiful wife and tueir no less
lovely child-baby Clare.
Few persons knew the true history
Of this marriage, but nobody could
be surprised at anything Vesey did
he being one OF those totally unr, lIG-
BILE natures sure to take you unaware
Notlu al d upright in the main but
impuIsive aud capricious to an extent
which rendered shnrp ,rrors
aud fatal mistakes an upnV liable
necessity. there could be 40 mi t,kt
about his marriage, however, NJ Il 1t
WAS impossible to doubt the perfect
love aud trust, which every word aI tt
glance revealed. uch happiness was
both rare aud beautiful aud prc-sup-
posed virtues. which made one gladly
forg the ugly stories haugIng about
his anti-nuptial dnys.
Nothing could be cheerier than the
home p, ture grouped about the
hearth this bitter winter II ght; all
day the storm had been raging and
the wind, which moancd among the
trees aud rushed shrieKiHg around
tho sharp sngl of the house, seemed
to gather fresh force and fury with
the coming night. Already the snow
lay soft aud deep, but tho hurry ing
fakes sill poured down, threatening
ere morning to oblitcrate II fam linr
landmarks. We drew closer about
the glowing tire, and Aljco loaned
forward t. rest ono shnpely elbow
upon her husbands knee. She wore
u crimson velvet gown, cut aVhy 10
show hDr VIII 10 throat, and with her
soft dark hair and softer. darker eyes,
looked fair enough to excuse any
fCly in a man.
"Look how he spol9 that child,
she sald, app aling to me and nOddiug
slightly to where baby bare, with
her blond head resting against her
faI ar's |, u4t Law III {,
the ends of his satin tie.
"What ~ II disoIered to lr te tosuch
serene enjoyment "a thisY laughed
Yesey. "Besidcs, dare not contend
with her, aud am only too thankful
IL isn't my nose. She has extrsordi-
nary taste sometimes and when she
sets her heart upon thing, -" he
made small grimace, which, catch
ing the baby's eye, caused her to drop
the cravat in terror. Puckering up
her little face she looked about to cry,
but changing her mind, rs if the joke
had suddenly struck her, she threw
back her head and broke INTO a sweet,
cooling little laugh nstead.
Alice leaned htill further forward,
and taking one tiny hand, pressed 1t
10 her cheek and lips, while Vesey,
placing his arm gently about his wlte;
drew her closer to him.
AT this moment terrific gust OF
wind swel rourd the house, shaking
ii to its very foundations and making
every window rat le.
What fearful night exclaim
Alice, wi h ehiver. II hope no poor
creature Is out in this storm, nothing
human could survive it an hour
Nothing human, certainly, but ii is
the night for our Ntsey tho laid
Albert mlschicvouely. "Iou know
she delights in gruesUme Sounds in
thunder, hail and rain / have no
no doubt she is enjoying herself
huge ~ tc-right."
Alice made little impatient moyc-
ment and started to rise. In the very
act of doing SO, however she gave II
startled cry and threw herself quite
npon her husbands brca,t.
"Did you see it-that face at the
window" she cried, cliugng t) her
husband and trembling with alright.
Look, a bert; is 1t there still; Do YOU
see it?"
Little Clare, almost cru. he'd by her
struggled vigorously. giving utterance
to q succession of sweet, scnst !. IS
sounds, meant for baby abuse.
"Ics, my lion hearted wife, | see
her, | see her quite distinctly. She
has claws and horns began Nesey
mirthful and delighted. But Alice,
lifting ali ashen white fsce, stopped
him.
Don't TX nonsense, Albert" She
said gravely L know Pm nervous
often, and not overly brave Ut any
time. but this is not nervousness
Indeed, indeed, there was q woman
there, woman with great horrid
eyes and u scarlet shaw abe her
head
"A shawl" euquired Vescy with
suspicious interest, swell, now that
ls strange. Her, totore she has pre-
ferred going bar, headed without AN
ornament save her horns, or perhaps
the il of her bluce ~ : cir,lfn,, 80,